Slovak PM Robert Fico injured when shot during an attempt on his life

Slovak PM Robert Fico was shot multiple times in an apparent assassination attempt but is expected to survive after surgery. A suspect was detained.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico had bullet holes in his body and was in a serious condition after which, he was shot multiple times in an apparent assassination attempt in the town of Handlova. Fico, however, underwent an emergency operation and was initially perceived as being close to death. 

Nevertheless, Deputy Prime Minister Tomas Taraba reported to the BBC later about the Deputy Prime Minister's surgery "success" and said that "he will survive in the end". "Fico was shot through the stomach by the first bullet that exited the joint by the second shot", Tamara stated.

An individual involved in the disturbance was apprehended, reported as an elderly 71-year-old writer and activist, who was detained on the spot. In an online video, a man says that he doesn’t share the government’s position and believes that the media is under their control.

Interior Minister Matia Ssu Taka said that this was a politically motivated assassination attempt. He blamed the mass media for creating a hostile environment that made the young man go to attack the Prime Minister who is 59 years old.

The shooting was carried out around the same time when the parliament started the discussions around the government's controversial bill about abolishing the public broadcaster RTVS. For several weeks, thousands of people have been protesting against the project.

Fico's polar-populist group managed to return to power following the elections in September of last year. The course of his office has been very controversial too, with policies such as blocking military aid for Ukraine and the abolishment of RTVS causing a huge clash in society.

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The shooting has not only made the current political relations worse but also increased political tensions in Slovakia. A new president, Zuzana Caputova, who has served in this position, has cautioned the people that a violent society will generate prejudicial acts.